Vehicle body-fender structure



Nov. 12, 1963 c. w. LOFTlN 3,110,515

VEHICLE BODY-FENDER STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 10, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.22

i J v Clifford t4. Loft/n INVENTOR.

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Nov. 12, 1963 c. w. LOFTIN VEHICLE BODY-FENDER STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Nov. 10, 1959 1N VEN TOR.

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Nov. 12, 1963 c. w. LOFTIN 3,110,515

1 VEHICLE BODY-FENDER STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 10, 1959 3 h e 3 Fig. 5

A III: 1 W al 1' Clifford M. Loft/n INVENTOR.

BY 244M403.

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United States Patent 3,110,515 VEHICLE RUDY-FENDER STRUCTURE Clifford W.Loftiu, 1466 Wells Ave, Newnan, Ga. Filed Nov. 10, 1959, Ser. No.852JJ98 9 Qlairns. (Cl. 293-62) This invention comprises a novel anduseful automobile safety construction and more particularly relates to acollision-resistant, reinforcement and safety construction to renderautomobiles less liable to damage and injury of their occupants in theevent of collision or upsets of the vehicles.

The primary object of this invention is to provide acollision-resistant, body-fender safety construction which may bereadily incorporated into the fabrication or applied to the bodies ofautomotive vehicles whereby to greatly increase their strength andresistance to damage by head-on collisions, sideaswiping and rollingover of the vehicles.

More specifically, an important object of the invention is to greatlyreinforce and strengthen the bodies of automotive vehicles and renderthe same much less prone to serious damage in the event of collisions orturning over of the vehicles by applying to all or selected portions ofthe front, rear and side walls of the vehicle a plurality of encirclingtubular hollow reinforcing members which will both cushion andstrengthen the body of the vehicle against collision.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a safetyconstruction for automotive vehicles which shall include a greatlystrengthened chassis or framework of such configuration as to deflectrather than absorb the shock of head-on impacts with stationary objectsor other vehicles together with a surrounding wall structure for thevehicle of the same configuration as that of the chassis and which shallconsist of a plurality of hollow individual ly collapsible memberswhereby to absorb and cushion the impact of the body with obstacles ofvarious types.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide anautomobile safety construction in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object in which the roof of the vehicle shall be secured tothe chassis of the same in a greatly improved and strengthened mannerwhereby to protect the occupants of the vehicle in the event that theautomobile is turned over.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompany drawings forming a part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of an automotive vehicle embodying thereinthe principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIGURE '1 andshowing in particular the encircling collision proof side wallconstruction of the invention applied to the body of the vehicle;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the closed frame of the chassis of thevehicle with the body and other portions of the vehicle being removedtherefrom;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View through the chassisand body of the vehicle along sectionline 4-4 of FIGURE 1 showing inparticular the manner "ice 2 in which the top is rigidly secured to thechassis and in which the enclosing collision resistant wall structure ofthe body is mounted upon the chassis;

FIGURE 5 is a view in vertical transverse section taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of FIGURE 5 and showingin particular the structure and the manner by which the hollowlongitudinal collisionresistant members are mounted upon verticalsupports of the chassis of the vehicle; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the hollowreinforcing members of the invention.

The objects of the present invention are attained primarily by theprovision of an improved chassis or frame construction of an automotivevehicle having such configuration and reinforcement as to enable it todeflect rather than absorb the vast majority of impacts applied theretoeither from the front or sides thereof; together with a front, rear andside wall construction which encloses or constitutes the body of thevehicle and which throughout its extent is capable of locally absorbingimpacts directed thereagainst without transmitting the same to theinterior of the body. a

A suitable embodiment in accordance with the principles of thisinvention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which the numeral Illdesignates generally an automotive vehicle of any of the conventionalstyles to which the principles of this invention have been applied, thevehicle including a top 12 together with front and rear portions 14 and16 respectively and further comprising a reinforcing wall constructionconsisting of rounded front and rear walls 18 and 20 together with sidewalls 22.

Although the reinforcing collision resistant and rear and side wallconstruction indicated at 18, 2t] and 22 and to be hereinafter describedin detail is applicable to various constructions of automobiles andtheir bodies, the principles of the invention are best attained byapplying the same to the particular configuration of chassis or frameshown in FIGURE 3.

The chassis or frame which is preferred for carrying out the basicconcept of this invention is an elongated closed frame consisting ofhollow longitudinally extending side frame members each indicated by thenumeral 24 and which at their mid-portions as at 26 are slightlyangulated so that the enclosed frame is of greater width at itsmid-portion than at its opposite extremities. At the front and rear endsthe side frame members 24 are connected by arcuate end members 28 at thefront end and 30 at the rear end of the vehicle. Greater strength andbracing is imparted to the chassis by a single hollow longitudialmedially and centrally disposed frame member 32 whose oppositeextremities are secured in any suitable manner to the front and rearframe members 23 and 30, and by means of a plurality of transverse bracemembers which may consist of a central brace member as at 3'4 securingthe mid-portions 26 of the side frame members 24, and front and reartransverse members as at 36 and 38 respectively. Preferably, thesemembers 36 and 38 are connected to the side frame members 24- atsubstantially the region at which the curved front and rear framemembers 28 and 30 are merged therewith. Diagonal hollow brace members asat 41) are also provided by means of which the opposite ends of thetransverse members 36 33 are secured to the ends of the central framemember 32. it will thus be seen that there is provided a rigid closedframe consisting of hollow members as will be apparent from a comparisonof FIGURES 4 and 5 which is of a relatively greater width at itsmid-portion and narrows and tapers toward its front and rear extremitiesand has smoothly curved front and rear ends. This particularconfiguratic-n of the frame results in impacts applied to the front andrear ends thereof being deflected towards the sides, while side-swipirueffects applied to the diverging front and rear portions of the framewill likewise tend to glance off so that the frame can readily shed theforces and impacts of collisions of the vehicle with stationary ormoving objects.

By reference to FZGURE 4 and in conjunction with PE URES S and 6 it willbe observed that a plurality of vertical support members are se ured toand rise from the closed frame members 24, and at intervals along theperiphery thereof. ""hese supports con itute means for mounting thepreviously ment.oned reinforcing structure of the front, rear and sidewalls 123, 2G and 22; to the chassis and the body of the vehicle. Inaddition, a plurality of rigid U-shaped standards as at 44 are likewisesecured to the closed frame previously mentioned and also to certain ofthe vertical supports and rigidly support the top 12 and brace it inspaced relation to the chassis of the vehicle. it will be observed thatthe top structure itself about its periphery is provided with downwardlysloping surfaces as at to, see also PEGURES 1 and 2, so that the top isrigidly supported whereby if the vehicle should be turned over the topwill by the standards 44 support the weight or" the body and thusprevent crushing of the body and injury to the occupants thereof. Bythis construction the vehicle may be readily turned over and rolled overas the result of a collision without serious damage to itself and itsoccupant. It should be here noted that if two vehicles of thisconfiguration should meet head-on, it is almost certain that they willglance off each Oilfif and although they may be caused to roll over,there will be relative little damage to the vehicles and their occupantssuch as would occur with the conventional type of vehicle having thefiat front surface.

Reference is now made particularly to FIGURES 2, 4 and 5 wherein it willbe seen that the reinforcing wall structure applied to the front, rearand sides of the vehicle body at 18, d and 22 consists of a cushioningcollision resistant wall structure which completely encloses the vehicleand extends from the chassis frame members 24, 23 and 3d verticallyupwardly therefrom. The vehicle body may have the usual side wall skin.in other instances, the collision-proof reinforced construction of thisinvention may constitute the actual wall structure of the vehicle body.The reinforcing structure whether applied to the side wall skin orconstituting the side wall of the vehicle body consists of :a pluralityof hollow elongated metallic members, each of which is designatedgenerally by the numeral From reference to FIGURE 7 it will be observedthat each member 5% consists of a semi-cylindrical, outwardly protrudingfender element comprising a central web portion "2 which at its oppositeside edges is provided with opposed oppositely extending coplanarmounting flanges 54 which maybe provided with apertures as at 56 for thereception of fastening bolts as at 53, see FIGURE 6, by which themembers 59 may be removably secured to the supports and the standards 4of the framework of the automobile body. it will be observed that thewebs 52 are outwardly COIlVfiXfid, that is project outwardly away fromthe supports 42- so as to provide hollow tubes, fenders or collisionmembers. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 in particular, the reinforcingmembers 59 extend horizontally of the body of the vehicle and aredisposed in vertically spaced adjacent positions with adjacent flanges54 of adjacent members preferably abutting each other as shown in FlGURE6. As illustrated in the arrangement of the drawings these reinforccrsextend in unbroken arrang ment entirely the front, rear and side wallsof the vehicle body complete? enclose the same and protect the nst theeffects of collision or impact from any in some instance, however, itmay be preferred the collision resistant reinforcing construction ordedby the members 5-3- to selected portions only of g the impact willabsorb the impact blow will be cushioned by the collapsing of thesemi-cy"ndrical sections 52 which are subjected to the pact and thuspermitting the transmission of t e full impact to the body structure ofthe automobile.

By the preesnt invention there is thus provided a reing acollision-resistant, body-fender construction h may be either fabricatedinto vehicle bodies during their construction at the factory or may beapplied thereto subsequently as desired and which will greatlycontribute towards deflection of head-on collisions from the body, aswell as a cushioning of impacts from any direction whereby to greatlyreinforce and strengthen the body, and minimize the danger of collisionstherewith.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the :rinciples ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A collision-resistant automobile body-fender construction comprising(a) a plurality of horizontally elongated reinforcing members se ured invertically spaced, horizontal relation,

(b) each of said elongated members including a pair of coplanar mountingflanges disposed in spaced sideby-side relation (0) and an outwardlyprotruding element disposed between and secured to said pair of flanges,

(:1) said protruding elements of said members constitutin the tender ofsaid body-fender construction.

2.. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pair of flanges of eachmember consist of a single sheet of metal.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein each elongated member consists ofintegral flanges and protruding element.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein each elongated member consists ofa metal sheet having integral flanges and element, said element beinghollow for crushing under impact.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the adjacent mounting flanges ofvertically adjacent members are in engagement.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bodyfender constructionincludes front, end and side walls, said side walls being convergentfrom their midportion towards said front and end walls and said frontand end walls being bowed outwardly from each other from endto-endwhereby to reduce the possibility of and the damage from end-on impacts.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said elongated members arecontinuous and extend entirely about and surround said body-fenderconstruction.

8. In a vehicle having a chassis and a reinforced, collision-resistantbody-fender construction mounted thereon,

(a) a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally elongated hollowmembers,

(b) each member comprising a pair of coplanar horizontaliy extendingmounting flanges disposed in a spaced side-by-side relation,

(0) each member including a fender element secured to the adjacent edgesof said pair of flanges and protruding outwardly from the plane of saidflanges,

(d) the flanges of vertically adjacent members being engaged with eachother.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said protruding fender elementscomprise hollow Webs joined to the adjacent edges of the associated pairof flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS154,327 Fulk et a1 Aug. 25, 1874 1,252,558 Edrington Ian. 8, 19181,457,259 Malluk et a1 May 29, 1923 1,706,162 Howarth et a1 Mar. 19,1929 6 Dolbier Jan. 28, Lusse Apr. 8, Cooke Feb. 24, Martin- 2 June 22,Martin June 21, Ronning Feb. 18, Cherry June 24, Martin Feb. 3, HextellFeb. 23, Premo Feb. 23, Pezziano Aug. 1, Thompson J an. 20, Kraeft Mar.31, Owen Sept. 9, Earl July 7, Skeens July 28,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Dec. 3,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,110,515 November 12, 1963 Clifford W, Lof tin the above numberedpatthat error appears in should read as It is hereby certified :1 thatthe said Letters Patent ent requiring correction an corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification line 3, for "1466 WellsAve., Newman, Ga," read Newman Ga. (1466 Wells Aver, Claremont, Calif)(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner ofPatents

1. A COLLISION-RESISTANT AUTOMOBILE BODY-FENDER CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING(A) A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED REINFORCING MEMBERS SECURED INVERTICALLY SPACED, HORIZONTAL RELATION, (B) EACH OF SAID ELONGATEDMEMBERS INCLUDING A PAIR OF COPLANAR MOUNTING FLANGES DISPOSED IN SPACEDSIDEBY-SIDE RELATION (C) AND AN OUTWARDLY PROTRUDING ELEMENT DISPOSEDBETWEEN AND SECURED TO SAID PAIR OF FLANGES, (D) SAID PROTRUDINGELEMENTS OF SAID MEMBERS CONSTITUTING THE FENDER OF SAID BODY-FENDERCONSTRUCTION.